Should Canton have its own minimum wage?

Canton City Councilman John Mariol II, D-7, wants the city to establish its own minimum wage for employers.

Comment

By Repository staff report

The Repository

By Repository staff report

Posted Dec. 4, 2013 at 4:00 AM

By Repository staff report

Posted Dec. 4, 2013 at 4:00 AM

CANTON

Canton City Councilman John Mariol II, D-7, wants the city to establish its own minimum wage for employers.

He has not offered a specific ordinance but has said he would exempt small businesses if it’s legally possible to do so. Ohio’s minimum wage currently is $7.85. The federal minimum wage is $7.25.

If council goes along with Mariol, Canton would be the first city in Ohio to establish its own minimum wage.

Here’s what some of the commenters at CantonRep.com think about the idea:

How will this affect the public-sector union contracts? Will they automatically get raises for cost-of-living increase? Randy Davis

... Does this minimum wage issue apply to residents living and employed in Canton, or does it follow a city resident or apply to noncity residents employed in the city limits? Could one get a city mailbox address and qualify or live with their parents at Lake Cable and get this wage, plus work as a good waiter at a class restaurant in Canton city? ... Jim Jenkins

For what it is worth, raising the minimum wage will only drive up the cost for us all. They who refuse to admit it are fools. John Currier

Once again, well-minded politicians are screwed up. We need more jobs, so you want to raise the cost of labor even further. ... Bill Soplata

... Businesses will move out of the city. Common sense, since cost of labor is a business’s biggest expense. Like a lot of Democratic ideas, sounds great but won’t work. Thomas Darr

... Those minimum-wage jobs like retailing, delivering newspapers, etc., are for extra things. These jobs should be available to students and seniors that need some extra. ... The city is going to run more businesses out of town. Pamela Huth

In today’s world, there are quite a few people who work these jobs and, some of them may have 3 or 4 employers. Why is it, whenever somebody brings minimum wage up, the defenders of the wealthy ... get up in arms? Olie Krebbs

A truly stupid idea. If the city opts to raise its minimum wage, you can be sure that there actually be a reduction in income tax revenues. It’s already hard for Canton to keep businesses within the city limits. Raise the minimum wage and you now have an incentive for those still there to move to the surrounding townships. Fewer jobs in the city limits, fewer businesses there as well and more abandoned storefronts. Jim Hardy

Wages will never keep up with the cost of living. As soon as there’s an increase in minimum wage, the cost of goods and services goes up as well. It’s a never-ending cycle. Tom Waldren